Cane with remotely-operated jaw

Abstract

A cane includes a remotely-operated jaw. The jaw is defined by a single moving element, mounted to pivot about a point which is spaced apart from the lower portion of the shaft of the cane. A rod, connected at one end to a trigger, and connected at another end to the moving element, causes the element to pivot when the trigger is pulled, and thus causes the jaw to close. A locking pin, located near the trigger, locks the rod in place, so that the product can be used as an ordinary cane. The rod, the jaw, and the trigger are permanently held outside of the body of the cane, so that the structural integrity of the cane is not compromised.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cane having a remotely-operated jaw, comprising:
 a) a cane body including a handle portion and a substantially straight shaft,   b) a jaw comprising a single moving element, the element being pivotably mounted, in a vicinity of a lower end of the shaft, by a first clamp which connects the moving element to the shaft,   c) a trigger, connected to a substantially straight and rigid rod, the rod having upper and lower ends, the rod being held, in a vicinity of its upper end, by a second clamp which is affixed to the shaft in a vicinity of the upper end of the rod, the rod being engaged, in a vicinity of its lower end, with the moving element such that longitudinal movement of the rod, caused by pulling of the trigger, causes the moving element to pivot,   wherein the rod, the jaw, and the trigger are permanently held outside of the body of the cane.   
     
     
         2 . The cane of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is inserted within a block which is connected to the moving element. 
     
     
         3 . The cane of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the rod comprises a hook which is engaged with a pin connected to the moving element, wherein translational movement of the pin causes the moving element to pivot. 
     
     
         4 . The cane of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion includes a grip which is generally perpendicular to the shaft, and wherein the trigger includes a proximal finger which is generally parallel to the grip. 
     
     
         5 . The cane of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp extends from the shaft to define a pivot point for the moving element, the pivot point being spaced apart from the shaft, and wherein the rod is engaged with the moving element on an opposite side of the shaft relative to said pivot point. 
     
     
         6 . The cane of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking pin connected to said second clamp, the locking pin comprising means for locking the rod in a selected longitudinal position. 
     
     
         7 . The cane of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp is connected to a spring which biases the moving element in an open position. 
     
     
         8 . A cane having a remotely-operated jaw, comprising:
 a) a cane body including a handle portion and a substantially straight shaft,   b) a jaw comprising a single moving element, the element being pivotably mounted, in a vicinity of a lower end of the shaft, by a first clamp which connects the moving element to the shaft,   c) a trigger, connected to a substantially straight and rigid rod, the rod having upper and lower ends, the rod being held, in a vicinity of its upper end, by a second clamp which is affixed to the shaft in a vicinity of the upper end of the rod, the rod being engaged, in a vicinity of its lower end, with the moving element such that longitudinal movement of the rod, caused by pulling of the trigger, causes the moving element to pivot,   wherein the rod, the jaw, and the trigger are permanently held outside of the body of the cane,   wherein the lower end of the rod comprises a hook which is engaged with a pin connected to the moving element, wherein translational movement of the pin causes the moving element to pivot, and   wherein the first clamp extends from the shaft to define a pivot point for the moving element, the pivot point being spaced apart from the shaft, and wherein the rod is engaged with the moving element on an opposite side of the shaft relative to said pivot point.   
     
     
         9 . The cane of  claim 8 , wherein the handle portion includes a grip which is generally perpendicular to the shaft, and wherein the trigger includes a proximal finger which is generally parallel to the grip. 
     
     
         10 . The cane of  claim 9 , further comprising a locking pin connected to said second clamp, the locking pin comprising means for locking the rod in a selected longitudinal position. 
     
     
         11 . The cane of  claim 8 , wherein the first clamp is connected to a spring which biases the moving element in an open position. 
     
     
         12 . A cane having a remotely-operated jaw, comprising:
 a) a cane body including a handle portion and a substantially straight shaft,   b) a jaw comprising a single moving element, the element being pivotably mounted, in a vicinity of a lower end of the shaft, by a first clamp which connects the moving element to the shaft,   c) a trigger, connected to a substantially straight and rigid rod, the rod having upper and lower ends, the rod being held, in a vicinity of its upper end, by a second clamp which is affixed to the shaft in a vicinity of the upper end of the rod, the rod being engaged, in a vicinity of its lower end, with the moving element such that longitudinal movement of the rod, caused by pulling of the trigger, causes the moving element to pivot,   wherein the rod, the jaw, and the trigger are permanently held outside of the body of the cane,   wherein the handle portion includes a grip which is generally perpendicular to the shaft, and wherein the trigger includes a proximal finger which is generally parallel to the grip, and   wherein the first clamp extends from the shaft to define a pivot point for the moving element, the pivot point being spaced apart from the shaft, and wherein the rod is engaged with the moving element on an opposite side of the shaft relative to said pivot point.   
     
     
         13 . The cane of  claim 12 , further comprising a locking pin connected to said second clamp, the locking pin comprising means for locking the rod in a selected longitudinal position. 
     
     
         14 . The cane of  claim 12 , wherein the first clamp is connected to a spring which biases the moving element in an open position.